Ohio State president, band leaders to meet

Published: August 21, 2014 9:56 AM

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — University and marching band leaders at Ohio State are preparing to meet to discuss the future path of the organization after the firing of its director.

A spokesman says president Michael Drake is scheduled to meet Thursday with interim directors and some of the band's 33 student squad leaders.

Spokesman Gary Lewis says Drake has no plans to revisit the July 24 firing of director Jonathan Waters. However, the high-profile dismissal is anticipated to come up during the gathering.

Waters was fired after a two-month university investigation concluded he knew about but didn't stop a "sexualized" band culture of rituals that included partially-clad marching, groping games and sometimes explicit nicknames.

The university board rejected Waters' request for reinstatement, which was supported by leaders of the band alumni association.